Letter: Public school face many obstacles

Published: Sunday, Dec. 9 2012 12:00 a.m. MST

Public school enrollment swelled to more than 600,000 in 2012, including high percentage gains for both charter schools and minority students, according to data released Friday by the Utah State Office of Education. (Jeffrey D. Allred , Deseret News)

Adding 300 hours a year to the public school agenda is a noble experiment — I hope it works. I have always been a huge advocate of public education. Anything we can do to improve the results of public education, I support.

The road blocks to success in public schools are many. The first — the vacuum in cultural morals. The greatest compliment to success in any education system is the influence of the home and family. If there is no help or support, the teachers become helpless and get the majority of the blame.

My advice is to run school from 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. so the kids can get some sleep. Do your best to encourage the joy of learning. Don't dumb down the expectations.

If more money is added to the budget, add tutors not more administrators.